Leaders of 40 Countries to Discuss Heightened Middle Eastern Tensions at BRICS Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a virtual summit of the BRICS group of nations in Moscow on Nov. 21, 2023. Alexander Kazakov/AFP via Getty Images

Representatives from about 40 countries will be participating in discussions on mounting tensions in the Middle East on the last day of the 16th annual BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.

Originally a geopolitical bloc, founders Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC), met for the first formal summit in 2009 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. South Africa joined in 2010, making it BRICS. The organization has since expanded to welcome Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

According to a 2023 BRICS publication, the bloc’s membership makes up 41 percent of the world’s population, 20 percent of the world’s gross domestic product, and more than 16 percent of the share in world trade.

“BRICS countries have been the main engines of global economic growth over the years,” the publication states.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will be meeting with world leaders throughout the summit, which will be held from Oct. 22 to Oct. 24.

According to a Kremlin statement, the summit’s theme is “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security.”

BRICS leaders will delve into three areas of discussion: politics and security, economy and finance, and cultural and humanitarian ties, the Kremlin said.

“Particular attention will be given to the potential expansion of BRICS through the proposed establishment of a new category of ‘partner nations,’” a Kremlin spokesperson said.

A summary of the discussion outcomes will be documented in the Kazan Summit Declaration.

On the summit’s final day, the BRICS Plus/Outreach will begin with the representatives, including heads of executive bodies from multiple international organizations such as the Commonwealth of Independent States, in attendance.

“The agenda includes discussions on pressing international issues, with a particular focus on the escalating situation in the Middle East and interactions between the BRICS countries and the Global South in the interests of sustainable development,” the Kremlin said.

On Oct. 18, Putin met with journalists from BRICS countries to answer questions about the group’s role on the world stage amid rapid changes, and to discuss the opportunities these changes present for BRICS.

Putin said that though BRICS countries such as China, India, Russia, and Saudi Arabia will “record positive growth,” Southeast Asian and African countries “will demonstrate outstripping growth rates.”

“Regarding BRICS countries like China, India, Brazil, and South Africa, it is evident that their expanding economic potential will lead to their bigger global influence,” Putin said. “This is an undeniable fact and it simply reflects objective reality. As my colleagues, partners, and friends have often noted, BRICS represents 45 percent of the world’s population, covers 33 percent of the Earth’s land area, and has a continuous growth in trade and global commerce.”